Going back in time: Daniel Gould’s 3D List, Art in Amsterdam #75

During the last few weeks things have been looking up for the Amsterdam art market. Those elusive RED DOTS have become a little more prevalent. And there is something that might account for that. Prices seem to have gone down on works of art. That's great news for the collector. But see for your self. And hurry. A few shows reviewed will close this coming weekend. 

INDEX:

BITS & PIECES: 

RESTAURANT REVIEW l'Ozio (Italian)

WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED:

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BITS & PIECES:

3D attended an event at the PARK HOTEL which celebrated AMSTERDAM DANCE EVENT. I was photographed by "polaroidgirl." You can check her out at her FACEBOOK site which is labeled, oddly enough, "polaroidgirl." Invite her to an opening. She works the room with her Polaroid.
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Here are words of wisdom from Charley Brown, the hero of the Peanuts strip: Linus: "What would you say you wanted most out of life Charley Brown...to be happy?"  Charley Brown: "Oh, no...I don't expect that...I really don't...I just don't want to be unhappy!" 
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Carol Vogel discusses an Art Fair in Qatar, "The gang's all there talking about art Qatar," (www.nytimes.com, 17th Oct). Forget Basel and the Armory...and see what's happening in the desert.

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"Extremists have shown what frightens them most: A girl with a book." Malala Yousafzai.
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Eddie Fisher, father of Cary Fisher, of Star Wars fame, wrote a tell-all book titled, "Been There, Done That." Stieg Larsson, in the last of his trilogy, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, amends it to read: "Been there, done that, got the T-shirt."
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A long article concerning art and art forgery in Chian appeared in the Int New York Times: "Art & fraud in China," by David Barboza and Amanda Cox (www.INYT.com, 28th Oct). The art that is selling at auction it is estimated that over 50% are copies. Scary!
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Laser 3.14 checks into the 3D list with this observation: "There's No Compulsion; Except Compulsion."
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RESTAURANT REVIEW: l'Ozio, Ferdinand Bolstraat 26, De Pijp  (Opened: 2009, 50+ seats)

During my 20s, I dated a woman whose dream was to marry a doctor, dentist or lawyer; move next door to a good Italian restaurant and spend the rest of her life getting fat. Not a bad personal business plan. 

The Italians do know how to cook. Even the French kitchen owes its cuisine to the Italians. The daughter of a Medici was married into the Bourbon family in the 16th century. Once she arrived in Paris she discovered the food to be deplorable. She sent for an Italian chef and his kitchen to come to France and feed her. They took the local produce and meats and applied Italian techniques. The rest is gastronomic history.

America, with its large Italian immigrant population, has superb Italian restaurants from coast-to-coast. Until recently, the Dutch only knew pizza and spaghetti. Fortunately over the last 20 years things have changed and for the better...much better. 

I "discovered" l'Ozio a little over a week ago when I attended an opening for an artist that was hanging there (see review below). A very simple hapje, consisting of tomato with oil, on toast, got my attention. The wines they were serving were exceptional for an opening. I would return five days later to try the menu.

It is a rather simple menu. There are six appetizer selections which include Swordfish Tartar (13 euro) and Speck a lightly smoked pork dish with black truffle and ricotta (13 euro). You can choose from four pastas: The "ravioli of the day" (14 euro); there is also a "risotto of the day" (13 euro) and Cocoa Papparedelle with sauce Marsalaporchini and Italian sausage (13 euro).

Three varieties of salads are offered. The Rucola with soft Pecorino goat cheese and green apple sounds interesting (7 euro). 

The entree list is also limited. There is both a meat and fish daily special with a day price. Also slices of beef entrcotewith a sauce of watercress (22 euro). Fillet of sole with a sauce of capers and olives is a staple (22 euro). However, even the standard menu changes from time to time. In other words, the menu is not always the same. Just like at home.

Desserts? Well, don't ask. But it is a heavenly selection....More about that later.

The best part is that there is a daily tasting menu priced at 30 euro. Three appetizers, two pastas, a choice of a fish or meat entree and dessert. I said, Why not? 

Ah, the appetizers...Bresaola with goat cheese and honey was chewy and with the rich taste of slightly salty goat cheese balanced with a mellowing taste of honey. Couquilles au gratin was a perfectly cooked shallot, neither undercooked nor overcooked. There was a shower of tasty breadcrumbs covering it. Finally, vegetable caponata with an intense tomato flavor, onions and peppers and a spicy aftertaste served on olive bread. Each was a winner! And a long swirl of thick balsamic vinegar decorated the plate. I sopped it up with the side dish of bread.

The risotto of the day was with porchini mushrooms. Again, perfectly cooked risotto al dente with a savory and rich sauce with a slight briny aftertaste. On the same plate, there were five ravioli del giorno. The ravioli was stuffed with a filling of rocket salad Parmesan compote covered with a rich butter and sage sauce. There was a nice sharp bite to it. I cannot remember the last time I tasted ravioli that was so light---like a feather---and so delectable. The owner, Adriano, would tell me later, that he had Mama Sandra to thank for that. She is a 75 year old Italian woman who had had her own restaurant in the Po Valley for 30 years. She retired a few years back. Adriano persuaded her to come to Amsterdam a year or so ago. She starts the day at 09:00 making the ravioli of the day. Adriano pushes her out the door no later than 21:00; and she is reluctant to go. You can order the dish as an appetizeor r as a pasta course (12). 

You have a choice of two entrees on the tasting menu: Beef in a red wine sauce or sea bass in a sauce of honey and thyme. I assume it changes from time to time. I selected the fish. l'Ozio has an open kitchen. By coincidence, I happen to see the cook throw in two fish fillets into a pan over a high heat. It would be my order. He put it skin-down and sizzled for perhaps 45 seconds and doused it with a liquid. He then raised the pan off the burner and turned enough for the oil to catch fire. That completed the cooking and the fish was on the plate in less than 90 seconds from start to finish. Result: charred on the outside and juicy on the inside. Wow!  

On the plate there were roasted small potatoes, cauliflower boiled just long enough and with a slight crunch; and zucchini with a pleasing flavor of thyme. 

I washed it all down with two different white house wines: Vino Della Casa Villacastello, 2012 @ 3.60 euro; Pinot Grigio, 2012, Poggiobello @ 3.60 euro. Both were dry but refreshing and perfect complements to the menu I ordered. 

The portion sizes from appetizer to entree were generous, especially the ravioli. There is no salt nor pepper on the table, but there was none needed.

Dessert! What can I say? There is sgroppino and chocolate cake (each 6 euro). I ordered the parfait with almond and toffee sauce which was light and oh so very tasty. Much to my surprise, another dessert had been added: Tosta sbrisolna, a crispy traditional cookie-like cake with an orange marmalade filling. I couldn't finish it. The waitress would rap it for me to take home. There is also a sampler plate of their desserts (17 euro).

I have saved the wine list for last. It is a four page affair and it is impressive for three reasons: 1. ALL wines are Italian: whites, reds, roses, Prosecco, Spumante and dessert wine. 2. There are a total of 32 to select from and 11 can be tasted by the glass. 3. The list includes a detailed description:

Example: Barbera D'Alba, 2012, Bricco Dei Guazzi @ 5 euro/glass, 32 euro/bottle. Grape: 100% Barbera, Piedmont. Color: deep intense robin red. Aroma: full body with intense aroma of ripe fruit. Suggestions for foods: all sorts of red meat. 

All regions of Italy are represented: Pugla, Friuli, Marche, Sicily, Molist, Toscana, et al. By the glass: 3.60 euro; 4.50 euro; 5.00 euro and 6.00 euro. By the bottle: 14 selections priced from 18.50 to 29.00 euro; 18 selctions from 31 to 72.50 euro. The latter is Amarone Della Valpolicella Stefano Accordini, 2008. 

The owner, Adriano, is from Brescia which is the second largest city, in the Lombard region, of Italy, after Milan. Its population is less than 200,000. 

In conclusion: l'Ozio is a first rate Italian' dining experience. Friendly and attentive service. Adriano greeted several people with smiles and hugs that indicated that they were regulars. A very good sign that attest to the restaurants quality. The dinner took a relaxing two hours+ and the total bill was a reasonable 37.20 euro. Reservations suggested

Open Tuesday through Sunday for both lunch (12-15:00) and dinner (18-23:00). 

https://bit.ly/2NgFBbn  
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WHAT YOU HAVE MISSED:

Art Affairs (Veemkade 354) was the venue for the short ten day showing of artist Otto Krol. He paints with oil but on paper. Hanging were 41 A4 size works. His style is his own and is both contemporary and retro-representational. There is a pronounced linear aspect that gives to the work an abstraction-like feel to easily identified subject matter which consists of cars, building exteriors and room interior scenes. Krol emphasizes the abstraction by his use of perspective. The colors are calming; that is laid-back. But there is tension resulting from his using ochres and pale browns to subdued reds and somehow blending orange with blues and yellows. Conventional imagery but with colors that makes his work something special. And the elements of the retro influence is from two artist of the early 20th century: Kees Maks and Edward Hopper. From the former, he takes quick and sure strokes to define his forms; and from the latter he captures light in that unique way that conveys a simple emotion like loneliness.  21 RED DOTS final day of exhibition. (A4, oil on paper @ 500 euro). Closed. www.ottokrol.nl
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Roberto Caradonna was the owner of  Galerie AMBIENT which closed several years ago. He now paints full time. He is showing 22 paintings at the restaurant/gallery l'Ozio (Ferdinand Bolstraat 26).The imagery is figurative representational but he highlights this aspect by centering the imagery in a field of color. That is, the canvas may measure 60x60 cms., but the figure is about 15 cms high. As to the color painted on the canvas it is basically monochromatic and there doesn't appear to be any relationship to the subject. The color acts as a frame. As to the figuration it is finely done and comes close to being classified as realism. (750; 1,500; 2,000; & 3,000 euro). The exhibition will hang for three months. https://bit.ly/2NjqnSX         
https://bit.ly/2NgFBbn  
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At Witzenhausen Gallery (Hazenstraat 60) is work by Margriet van Breevoort and it is DIFFERENT & UNUSUAL. Not to mention, imaginative and destructive. What she has done is to take a sledge hammer to two sections of the floor of the space and make a hole. She then inserts in the hole a face and carefully fits the cracked floor pieces around it. In another, a hand is extended out from the floor and the hand has an extended finger giving the viewer "the bird." One other piece is difficult to take your eyes off it. A "man" is on all-fours with his "head" looking up at us. But the "head" is that of a turtle. Cool! (2,500 to 3,500 euro). Until 23rd November. https://bit.ly/2zCqZwM 
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Disclaimer: 3D's favorite artistic technique is drawing. Peter Vos, at GERHARD HOFLAND (Bilderdijkstraat 165) personifies the technique as if he was living in the late 19th century, but adapting that style to a contemporary bent. His work is meticulous to the point of being obsessive. A Dutch-like farm house has each tile detailed; the feathers' of birds are nearly hyper realistic; two monkeys, you can count each individual hair. It took him two years to do the 22 works on display. Considering all this, the prices are amazingly reasonable. 3 RED DOTS at opening. (30x40 cms. mixed media, inclusive frame @ 1,850 euro). Until 23rd November. www.GerhardHofland.com 
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Robby Bolleyn is at Eduard Planting Gallery (1e Bloemdwarsstraat 2) with pussy cats. Well, that's not really accurate since the "cats" are lions, leopards and cheetahs. But they do  look like docile cuties. A perfectly example is "A Place to Hide," in a word, precious. He catches them in unusually poses and situations. A few are in the motion photographic mode. Sometimes an almost unidentifiable blur streaking across the landscape. There are also a couple of elephants and zebras. Even these two subjects he shows in unique ways. One photos of an elephant's skin looks like the bottom of a dried up lake; and there is a close up of a zebra that could be a b/w abstraction. (All works in two sizes: 50x50 cms., Ed 10 @ 1,950 euro; 100x100 cms., Ed 7 @ 3,950 euro)  Until 21st December. www.eduardplanting.com 
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Arnout Killan is hanging his oil paintings at Galerie Brandt (Prinsengracht 799) which are in four basic styles: representational; linear geometric/abstraction; b/w abstractions; and an avant garde version of the Pointillist. Of the latter, there are two examples in b/w and both captivate you because of the meticulous effort that was required. The linear representational pieces are offices cubicles but the subject matter is immaterial, they're studies in perspective. (40x40 cms., oil on canvas @ 1,700 euro; 100x105 cms., oil on canvas @ 4,300 euro; 185x230 cms., @ 8,800 euro). Until 17th November. http://brandtgallery.com/ 
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Alejandro Garcia Contreras (Mexico) is showing at PS (Madurastraat 72). His ethnic origin is important to understanding the exhibition. Mexico is a country where the religious and mystical is still closely linked. The gallery's press release says, "the young artist is ironically humorous and playfully shows the dark side of faith." Indeed, five collages "illustrate" stories from the Bible. Then there is a collage which is unique in technique. It combines two colored drawings, holographic cardboard and a mirror. However, his porcelain work is Jeff Koons-like kitsch and any of the three will get your attention. They are miniatures standing no more than 25cms., high. (29x23 cms., oil on wood @ 750 euro; 22.5x17.5 cms., ink on paper @ 375 euro; 10.5x12x23 cms., porcelain @ 850 euro) Until 24th November. www.psprojectspace.nl
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Gallery 9 (Keizersgracht 548) has a group show: Eeef deGraff monochromatic and embossed prints in geometric forms (390 euro); Dorry van Haersolte presents conceptual b/w work that ranges from expressionist or abstract and sometimes both together (550 euro); Helma Veugen does conceptual abstracts with a chaotic feel (250+ euro); Dov Shlein does small and captivating prints and print/collages that are b/w and with a touch of color (650 euro); Jef Deideren brings colors to the show with his abstractions (600+ euro); Kees Segers linear abstraction in gray, white, black and sometimes colors (450 euro); Dinieks does beautiful black and gray compositions which are sometimes highlighted with touch of color (550 euro); Dick Cassee is a minimalist and is showing work on handmade Nepal paper and they are geometric/abstraction (600+); and Tineke Porck does subtle composition which are almost subliminal and also in shades of off-white and gray (700+). Until 5th November. https://bit.ly/2O2dGJ6 
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Mirjam Jacob (Germany) is at Ornis A. Gallery (Hazenstraat 11) with work that seems to emulate what the COBRAschool was trying to do with their child-like paintings and with their heavy emphasis on color and abstraction. Jacob's takes it a step further or maybe I should say backwards and captures not only the essence of children's work from the age of 3 to 8, but also the style, color and imaginative elements while refining the chaos. She goes a step further by adding collage pieces which adds to the work's dimensions by giving a sense of depth. (23x14 cms., pencil & crayon on paper @ 450 euro; 30x21 cms., crayon & collage on paper @ 600 euro) Until 23rd November. www.ornisagallery.com
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SLEWE (Kerkstraat 105) is showing Gunter Tuzian with his mixed-media work---oil and crayon---which pays homage to Piet Mondrian, Rothko and Jasper Johns in colors and sometimes style. But the reference are both indirect and subtle. He takes geometric/abstraction and deconstructs it in the composition. The colors do directly emulate both Mondrian and John's red, blue, yellow and black. What he does with the compositions is to combine freehand drawing with colors and rectangular/circular forms. He marries painting and drawings. The results are often captivating. (24x18 cms., acrylic, oil, crayon on wood @ 1,000 euro; 30 cms., diameter same materials @ 6,400 euro; 60x50 cms., same material @ 12,000 euro) Until 23rd November. www.slewe.nl
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...And a few doors down at De Witte Voet (Kerkstraat 135) is George Nijs. There is a purity in his work in both the forms---linear---and the material. Conceptual simplicity best describes it. These are small works in physical size but monumental in appearance. One is a series of simple wall hangings that hold a candle. In a few works you can almost perceive the Star of David. A lamp from bamboo has that Japanese feel of pure form. 5 RED DOTS at opening. (candle holder @ 50 euro; 450, 1,200 and 3,500 euro). Until 23rd November. www.galeriedewittevoet.nl 
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The new jewelry "gallery RA"  (Nes 120) has a duo exhibition. Peter Hoogeboom works in ceramic. Initially, he made jewelry. Now he has progressed to the point of taking his small ceramic objects---vaguely resembling old Dutch pipe bowls---and arranging them into wall or table objects. He creates forms and overlapping forms. (15x15x7 cms., free standing project fused ceramic @ 1,210 euro; 30.5x22.6.5 cms, wll object @ 2,440 euro).

Susanne Klemm has developed a plastic material she calls Polyolefin and also uses nylon to construct necklaces and rings that in some ways resemble sea creatures. Then there are the over sized rings that are super-light like a feather. (ring, epoxy, freshwater pearl @ 250 euro; ring, epoxy, calcite @ 320 euro; necklace, Polyolefin, fresh water pearly @ 1,100 euro)  Until __?__  www.galerie-ra.nl 
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James Aldridge (UK/Sweden) is having his third solo exhibition at Galerie Gabriel Rolt (Elandsgracht 34). In some ways he takes a page from David Salle but then expands it into a whole new world. While Salle was more concerned with geometric/abstraction, Aldridge goes far beyond that. He incorporates realism---birds---geometric symbols---the cube, pentagon, hexagons and the triangle. Then there are the simple linear aspects and, well, as a background to all this is expressionism. His is an exceptional style and busy, busy, busy, but always drawing you into the work looking for a focal point that is always illusive. 3 GREEN DOTS at opening  (120x90 cms., cut paper and acrylic @ 7,000 euro; 200x175 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 16,000 euro; 250x300cms., acrylic on canvas @ 20,000 euro) Until 23rd November www.gabrielrolt.com 
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Zilvinas Landzbergas is having his second solo exhibition at Galerie Fons Welters (Bloemstraat 140). He likes wood. He likes to work with wood and sometimes in unusual ways like the carved books. He fabricates several types and styles of imagery from this material: alpha symbols, cut-outs and the before mentioned, books. In this show he has four sheets of glass which he has used as a canvas. A wall size b/w drawing is both simple and monumental. Then there is the over sized "wooden dovecote" hanging from the ceiling of the gallery. It is his piece de resistance. (600; 1,200; 4,500; 7,500 euro) Until 23rd November. 

In the Playstation section, of the gallery, there are two artists showing. Travis Boyer has three works on cloth using the cyanotype process. It creates imagery that resemble Batik tie-dye work. Instead of an abstraction you see belts. (130x122 cms., cyanotype, acrylic and die on silk @ 2,600 euro)...Matthew Lutz-Kinoy hangs ceramic tableau-like objects made from ceramic with organic forms. But, you can almost perceive some figuration if you look hard enough. (50x30 cms. electric fired, glazed stoneware @ 1,300 euro) Until 23rd November. www.fonswelters.nl 
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LIFE: The Gallery (Lauriergracht 96) is exhibiting Roman Otting in a show titled Dutch Light. It could not be more accurate. Several of the paintings are seascapes in monochromatic white and painted on raw canvas. The form and contrast comes from the two elements. And they do capture Dutch light effectively. But he also paints in colors, too. One work, a trip-tych (360x80 cms.), is a contemporary impressionistic painting of a field of poppies. There is a strong contrast between the red flowers and the blue sky and both are complimented by a palette of subtle colors. Another aspect is he adds soil/sand to the paint that originates from the area where the work was made. (140x60 cms., oil and sand on canvas @ 3,200 euro; 130x180 cms., @ 4,200 euro). Until 30th November. www.lifeamsterdam.nl 
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Galerie Paul Andriesse (Liliegracht 47) is showing two artists. Bert Boogaard hangs mixed-media paintings and painted bottles. There are 14 of the latter. He has taken wine bottles and drizzled paint from the lip and let it streak down the side. Simple, but in a sense elegant. One painting is a geometric/abstraction which certainly gets your attention because of the color mix and linear zig-zag design. Another painting is a monochromatic canary yellow with colored beads ringing the composition. (30x40 cms., mica, painting on canvas, pine @ 5,500 euro; 40x50 cms., mica & paint on canvas @ 7,000 euro; 250x30x30 cms., glass bottles, paint, wood, metal @ 10,000 euro)

Stephen Wilks does ceramics. One work is 150 cms., high and looks like a bottle from which the air has been sucked out thus creating an interior vacuum and causes its form to implode. He repeats the process with smaller versions. (30x9x9 ceramic @ 4,800 euro; 150x50x50 cms., ceramic @ 15,000 euro) Until 21th January 2014. www.paulandriesse.nl 
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Patricia Steur is at "amstelgallery" (Stadhouderskade 155) with a nicely balanced exhibition of b/w work from the 80s and color photos since 2001. Steur has kept pace with the times. Her work from the 80s is already judged as classic examples of Dutch photography for the period. You will see the icons from the period like Warhol, Keith Haring and lots of musicians. Then she flash-forwards to the new century in a blaze of color. There is a series of pin-ups which reflect the pin-up calendars of the 50s and 60s; and, in  a few, she brings life back to Betty Page with look-a-likes. A more recent series pictures fashionable ladies with extensive tattooing. She makes them look elegant. Nice! 11 RED DOTS at opening (40x30 cms., b/w Ed 25 @ 350 euro; 35x45 cms., b/w Ed 25 @ 450 euro; 75x50 cms., color Ed 25 @ 1,500 euro)  Until 17th Nov. www.amstelgallery.com 
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There is a duo show at Galerie Clement (Prinsengracht 843). Terry Thompson is back once again and with an evolution to his style. He is introducing a more pronounced figurative element into his drawings. The abstract factor is still present, but now it is balanced with almost subliminal figures. Also he breaks from the purely b/w element with painted-drawing-collage work on canvas. (a485 to 1,500 euro)....Toon Berghahn plays with perspective, color, b/w. expressionism, geometric/abstraction and---surprise---at times all these elements are present in one composition. He does it small, 20x30 cms., and big, 200x150 cms. Check out #5, a potpourri of color and all in a chaotic state. (600 to 4,000 euro) Until 2nd Nove. https://bit.ly/2J3VcnE 
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Jonathan Marshall (USA) is showing The Old New World at GRIMM (Frans Halsstraat 26). It isn't often that one can label a gallery show as spectacular; that description is usually reserved for museum exhibitions. But, well, Marshall's work is spectacular! 

First of all, I can't relate his style/technique with any other artist. He is in a self-made category. And he crosses several border lines with his selection of materials---a vast variety---to imagery, subject matter and the visual. Sometimes he works like a tapestry maker. He creates imagery with threads and materials. The subject matter is often of a geographical nature like his fantasy island, or the very real Antarctic, or something he describes as the new old world. And I haven't got around to his fondness for typography. Indeed, it seems to be a passion. One large work he has created the imagery only with letter symbols collected into words and sentences and combined to make for a panoramic view of what looks like a wooded scene. 

Two mummy figures are both figurative and abstract. They are mixed media. They may even scare the hell out of you. Then there are his linear geometric works which are simple in form but project depth and a weird perspective. Two floor objects are detailed in their simplicity. Both have shoes as a focal point. There are conceptual but with strong linear aspects. Don't miss the small and unlit gallery. There is a series of paintings on black canvas. The imagery reflects the night sky filled with stars. You perceive the imagery more than you see it. This exhibition is a WOW! WOW!  (82x122 cms., acrylic, enamel, vinyl on steel with maple wood and steel shelves @ 1,400 euro; 153x115 cms., acrylic on canvas @9,000 euro; 273x159x108 cms., steel, cement, wood, linen, acrylic, Plexiglas @ 15,000 euro; 197x89x26 cms., ink on paper on plastic with brass and linen in a mahogany frame @ 15,000 euro) 9 RED DOTS; 3 GREEN DOTS at opening. Until 23rd Nov. www.grimmgallery.com
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Ron Mandos (Prinsengracht 282) is exhibiting two artists. Daniel Arsham (USA) is a conceptualist who works in the future to invoke the past. He does gouache works and objects. The gouache drawings are of American coins---and a few Dutch ones. All the coins are in a state of decay and look like artifacts from the past. His objects reflect the same theme. There are three really old-style wall phones that were common until the 50s. A 16mm projector looks like its from the 60s; a stereo radio from the 70s; and all are in an advancing state of decay. (38x30 cms., paper, water resin @ 2,500 euro; 32.5x45.5 cms., gouache on Mylar @ 5,200 euro; 175x45x45 xms., broken glass and resin @ 26,000 euro) 3 RED DOTS, 1 GREEN DOT at opening. 

Janet Biggs (USA) shows a video work titled A Step on the Sun. It is a short and silent documentary-style film about men who mine sulfur from an inactive volcano in Indonesia. Because of the sulfur fumes---the smell is like rotting eggs---their life span is from 35 to 50 years old. They make two trips a day to the bottom of the volcano with a work day of 10 to 12 hours and an income of about $8. Included in her exhibition are stills from  the docu. (28x53x8 cms., photo in light box @ 2,500 euro; film, Blu-Ray, Ed 5 @ 10,000 euro)  Until 16th Nov. www.ronmandos.nl 
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Corrie de Boer is at BORZO (Keizersgracht 516) with graphite b/w work which is captivating if only for its simplicity. However, there is a big break from that style with two large (106x100) collage pieces; one is b/w and two are b/w and red. The collage sections have been torn from a larger drawings that were either b/w or red and reconfigured into one composition. And that's not all...there are three dimensional objects on view. Some are drawings with add-ons or on a large piece of old wood with 50+ miniature framed photos. A work on linen, Last Horizon No. 1,  is in nine sections and measures 76x400 cms., is exquisite in its simplicity. (124x142 cms., mixed media @ 5,000 euro; 30x25 cms., graphite @5,000 euro; 175x120 cms., graphite @ 9,500 euro; 106x100 cms., collage @ 12,000 euro). 

Also on view is the work of Semna van Ooy, but how do I describe these charcoal drawings? How is this for a try: b/w, expressionistic abstracts with a chaotic composition that, well, works. You can't really anticipate the imagery even in its final competition. Huh? Go see! The sculpture pieces are made from easily identified pieces of wood but the forms are free-form and conceptual with a strong geometric/abstract feel. Oh, yeah, some can make you dizzy.  (29x22 cms., mixed media @ 650 euro; 60x40 cms., charcoal @ 1,200 euro; 75x95 cms., charcoal, pencil, tape @ 3,400 euro)  Until 26th October. www.borzo.com 
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Julia Winter (NL/Russia) is represented by Bob Lang Art and the exhibition is in the back gallery of "Witteveen visual art center" (Konijnenstraat 16). The 3D List has reviewed several of her shows over the last few years. She is hot; and it has not made her complacent. She is now doing something new while remaining true to her last series---and a monumental one---which was illustrating the front pages of 184 world newspapers. In this show, something remains from that period. She has taken both pages and book covers and put them on canvas in huge frames measuring 245x150 cms., and then paints a standing man, in a business suit and with tie. Her point is, "Put on a business suit and it shows confidence...it is a uniform worn by businessmen, doctors, sport stars, even artist." (29.5x21 cms., watercolor @ 650 euro; 62x45 xms., oil on linen @ 1,600 euro; 237x139 cms., oil @ 5,400 euro) Until __?__. https://bit.ly/2NR0zdF 
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ART A CASA (Kerkstraat 411) has two artists showing. Marijke Jansen makes very stylized mixed media/ceramic sculptured pieces. The subject matter is centered around dogs and one that looks like Big Bird from Sesame Street. But, well, she has her own way of representing them. While they are "representational" they are "artistically representational." A standing work of about 150 cm high looks like a ceramic work done by a Pointillists. 5 RED DOTS (170, 225, 2,750 euro).

Tamar Rubinstein makes collages that are drastically different from the main stream. She dose them her own way. She uses a variety of materials. Some she selects because of the color(s); there is typography; plastic forms, etc. Rubinstein's composition are determined by the material she uses. They all have a strong linear influence as well. 5 RED DOTS (20x15 cms., @ 150 euro; 30x20 cms., @ 175 euro; 40x30 cms., @ 295 euro) Until 25th November www.artacasa.nl 
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Margret Wibmer shows video, photographs, digital collages and objects at her exhibition at LUMEN TRAVO(Lijnbaansgracht 314). Her subject matter is unusual and ranges from a woman in a corset to a wrecked Toyota. Neither example explains anything about what she does, however. She is heavy on contrast and somewhat of a deconstructionist when it comes to composition. She shows, too, objects/sculpture pieces and how to define them is a real challenge. They do have form but there is still a visual mystery factor. Two works are obviously done through the miracle of PhotoShop, simple in form, complex in composition. Until 23rd. November. www.lumentravo.nl 
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...And a few doors away...AKINCI (Lijnbaansgracht 317) is an exhibition for Anna Wenzel with her second solo show at the gallery. She is displaying large ceramic bust of "historic generals and faces of contemporary politician and bankers - tired, old men." But don't try putting a name to an one of them. Each is portrayed as a person in a state of decomposition. The figures are abstractions of the figurative. And they resemble the alien as seen in the film series, "Alien." (24x65x48 cms., ceramic @ 6,500 euro; 102x60x59 cms., ceramic @ 9,000 euro; 161x103x72 cms., @ 24,000 euro) Until 9th November. www.akinci.nl 
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At Galerie LWW (1e Bloemdwarsstraat 5) is a group show of nine Eastern European artists. And what you get is nine different styles and techniques: b/w collage cut-outs; geometric/abstractions; Surreal oils; bronzes; photography and drawings. You'll find something you like, guaranteed. (Until 14th December. www.galerielww.nl 
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Wim Claessen is hanging his fifth+ exhibition at Galerie Roger Katwijk (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 198). His iconic landscapes which might be better defined as linear representational abstracts are on show. But there is also several paintings that are architecturally inspired, but still linear and with abstraction; and he uses the brushstrokes of an expressionist. There are also a few figurative works. (40x52 cms., acrylic on MDF @ 1,800 euro; 50x70 cms., acrylic on MDF @ 2,400 euro; 120x170 cms., acrylic on canvas @ 5,800 euro)  Until 16th November. www.galerierogerkatwijk.nl 
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Are things looking up on the Amsterdam art market? Maybe! But go and see for yourself. Head into the wind and may it be against your back so you can sail from one gallery to the next...And, oh, yeah, don't forget to buy something. Christmas is a-comin', shop early and avoid the crowds. A work of art is a gift for someone's life time.
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Photo: painting Roberto Caradonna

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